MINUTES
CALISTOGA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 6:00 PM
1. Call to Order/Roll Call/Pledge of Allegiance and Optional Patriotic Activity Mayor Williams called the regular session to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega and Councilmembers Eisenberg, Cooper and Gift.
Absent: None
2. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS
Mayor Williams stated there was a closed session held this afternoon regarding real property negotiations; there was no reportable action.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION ON CONSENT ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS There was public comment from Doug Allen asking the Council salary be raised and for better management of Staff, John Gleazer commented about the need for more bike racks and possibly designating a parking area just for bicycles, Dan Herndon stated there was police activity in his neighborhood and a Nixle was not issued, he called for timely informative nixles be made a priority. Rick Kaiser stated the City has an employee retention issue because of management and called for the Council to address the problem, and Dave Ross spoke about the council not vetting management employees sufficiently.
4. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Snideman reported that the Parks and Rec programs are in full swing and youth soccer is thriving. Also, there is to be a County wide cornhole competition.
5. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ AWARDS - NO ITEMS
6. CONSENT CALENDAR - NO ITEMS
7. PUBLIC HEARING - NO ITEMS
8. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
8.1. Receive the presentation for the final rate proposal and authorize staff to mail customer notices to begin the Proposition 218 rate adoption process and set a public hearing date of December 5, 2023.
Public Works Director Derek Rayner, Raftelis Consultant Kevin Kostiuk and attorney Megan Burke presented.
There was public comment from Jeri Hanson, she asked if it was true that not all City Council Minutes
October 3, 2023
mobile home residents would be able to file a protest against the new rates. Attorney Burke confirmed that per CA Gov't Code Section 53755 only one protest per parcel would be accepted. Donna Higgins and Dan Herndon checked that their math was correct against the chart and spoke against the new rates.
Council disscussed the item.
23-142
A motion was made by Councilmember Gift and Seconded by Vice Mayor LopezOrtega to approve the utility rate proposal and authorize Staff to notify customers, to begin Proposition 218 process for rate adoption and set the public hearing date of December 5, 2023.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Eisenberg reported that he attended an NVTA meeting in regard to Measure T and the Vine Trail delay. He also attended a Climate Action Committee meeting.
Councilmember Eisenberg is concerned about the S. Oak to N. Oak bridge project, he had not realized it was not in the budget but urges PW to use the grant money for it before we lose it. Also, he is concerned with all the empty storefronts and wondered if a Vacant Building Fee is possible?
Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega reported that she attended a Flood Control meeting and the CalCities Conference and brought back very useful info to the City. Councilmember Copper has nothing to report and Mayor Williams stated he and Councilmember Cooper continue to tend to Fairground meetings.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting, at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
Prepared by: Approved by:
Yudiana Galvan, City Clerk Donald Williams, Mayor
Prepared by: Approved by:
Marni Rittburg, CMC, City Chris Canning, Mayor
City Council Minutes
October 3, 2023
Clerk